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Switching sports: LH grad DeShields leaves football at St. Francis for basketball at Cal

By Rob Burchianti 4 min read
article image - Lori C. Padilla
Laurel Highlands graduate Keondre DeShields has transferred from St. Francis University of Pa., where he was recruited by the football team, to Penn West-California where he will play basketball this coming season.

Keondre DeShields was one of the top two-sport players in Laurel Highlands history, helping the boys basketball team win a WPIAL championship and the football team win its first two playoff games in program history.

When it came to picking which sport to play in college, DeShields went with football at St. Francis University of Pa.

A year later, however, DeShields is back on the basketball court.

The two-time all-state basketball player has transferred to Penn West-California to play for the Vulcans under head coach Danny Sancomb.

“Basketball was always my first love,” DeShields said. “I wanted to give football a try in college but it didn’t work out how I expected it to. So I decided to switch to hoops because that’s really the sport I like best.”

DeShields was a wide receiver with the Red Flash and played in two games as a freshman but now will be with Cal where he is listed as a 6-foot-3, 205-pound guard.

“I’m eligible for this year and I’ve still got four years left,” DeShields said.

DeShields and fellow junior Rodney Gallagher helped the Mustangs win the 2022 WPIAL Class 5A championship in a thrilling 60-58 double-overtime game against New Castle. DeShields had 18 points, including six in the second overtime, and 11 rebounds on the big stage at the Petersen Events Center.

Sancomb has had his eye on DeShields for a while.

“I watched him play in high school,” Sancomb said. “I watched him play a few games throughout the season and went over and watched him practice a few times.

“We’re excited to have him. He brings a lot of things to the table. He rebounds the ball well, he can defend, he’s a very good athlete, he scores the ball.”

DeShields knew he was on the Vulcans’ radar.

“They’ve been looking at me since high school,” DeShields said. “I always liked their facility and it’s close to home. I went in and did a workout with their head coach and he said he liked me still. So that’s where I decided to go.

“I feel good about it. I can’t wait.”

DeShields last played a competitive basketball game in 2023 with LH but Sancomb doesn’t see that as a concern.

“No, not at all. He did a lot of stuff this summer,” Sancomb said. “He didn’t go back to St. Francis after the first semester and I think he’s been focusing in on basketball. The good thing with us with basketball, we’ve got a few months before we play. He was down, getting some extra work in just the other day.”

Sancomb does foresee an adjustment period in going from high school basketball to the college level.

“We’re obviously looking forward to see how he picks up things and how he’s able to adjust to the college game,” Sancomb said. “But he’s going to add value to our program and we’re always looking for guys like that.”

DeShields was a versatile player for the Mustangs, a guard/forward who displayed the ability to score and defend inside and outside.

“I think he’s like a combo guard, a wing player,” Sancomb said of where he feels DeShields fits in with the Vulcans. “I think his athleticism and his strength are really going to help him. Most of the time he’s going to be bigger and stronger than the guy he’s guarding there.

“We think we can develop him into being a really good player.”

California also has a solid football program but you won’t see DeShields on the gridiron any time soon.

“The coach did actually ask about playing football there, too,” DeShields said. “But I think I’m just going to focus on basketball from now on.”

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